Syrian Minister of Culture Maha Qannout has chosen Egyptian artist Nabila Ebeid and Syrian actress Raghda to be jury members for the 12th Damascus International Film Festival, which will kick off on November 3, according to the Arabic daily Al Sharq Al Awsat.

Ragdha has been a jury member in many such events, the last which was the Carthage International Film Festival, while Ebeid will be a novice.

“My ongoing principle is that I serve on a jury without any bias, except in favor of truly beautiful art. The film that touches my feelings and mind is the one to which I will give the prize, regardless of the nationality of this film,” Raghda told the daily.

Ebaid reiterated her delight at being chosen, saying “any artist with experience and long professional history can easily choose a good film and distinguish it from other films, because no two people would differ on art quality standards.”

Egypt will participate in the formal contest of the festival with two films: Al Saher (Magician), directed by Radwan Al Kashef and costarring Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, and Muwaten Wa Mhkhber Wa Harami (Citizen, Detective and Thief), directed by Daoud Abdel Sayyed and costarring the two young artists Khaled Abul Naga and Hend Sabri.